But Google is presumably using different code (otherwise this is a copyright issue). So the points stands - these are patents on generic idea rather than specific as the code is the specific implementation, and copying the code would be a copyright rather than patent violation.In other words, software patents are dumb.

I agree, but you are talking about patent trolls here and neither Microsoft nor Apple are patent trolls because they do actually use their patents in products.

The issue is stopping innovation because you were the first to get a monopoly. You were not special. You were not genius. You brought nothing in the world. You simply had a bag of money to patent an idea millions of people had before you. Your patent stops progress. Your patent is a deterrent to human progress.